Misplaced Pages

Principality of Hungary: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 13:10, 22 September 2011 editSamofi (talk | contribs)1,124 editsm small repair← Previous edit Latest revision as of 21:32, 14 November 2024 edit undoJ 1982 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users153,038 edits Name 
(463 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|State in Central Europe (c. 895–1000)}}
{{Disputed|date=September 2011}}
{{Original research|date=September 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{This article is about|the Hungarian monarchy in the Early Middle Ages|the principality ruled by Stephen Bocskai in the Early Modern Period|Stephen Bocskai}}{{Infobox former country

| native_name = {{native name|hu|Magyar Nagyfejedelemség}}
{{Infobox former country
| conventional_long_name = Grand Principality of Hungary
|native_name = ''Magyar Nagyfejedelemség'' <small>(])</small>
| common_name = Gyula/Kende of the Hungarians
|conventional_long_name = Principality of Hungary
| era = Middle Ages
|common_name = Grand Prince of the Hungarians
| status = ]
|
| government_type = {{ubli|]–] ] ] (early)|Tribal confederation}}
|continent = Europe
| life_span = {{circa|895}}–1000<br/>{{nowrap|{{nobold|]}}}}
|region = Central Europe
| event_start =
|country = Hungary
| date_start = {{circa|895}}
|era = Middle ages
| event_end = Coronation {{nowrap|of ]}}
|status = Confederation
| date_end = 25 December 1000<br>or 1 January 1001
|government_type = Principality
| event1 = ]
|
| date_event1 = 839–970
|year_start = the 9th century
| event2 = ]
|year_end = 1000
| date_event2 = 4–6 July 907
|life_span = 895 – 1000
| event3 = ]
|
| date_event3 = 10–12 August 955
|event_start = <!--- Default: "Established" --->
| event4 = ]'s revolt
|date_start = 9th century<span style="display: none;">
| date_event4 = 997
|event_end = ended at the coronation of<br>{{spaces|4}}{{nowrap|]}}
| p1 = Hungarian prehistory#Etelköz{{!}}Etelköz
|date_end = <br>25 December 1000<br>or 1 January 1001<span style="display: none;">
| p2 = Great Moravia
|
| p3 = Principality of Lower Pannonia
|p1 = Eurasian Avars
| p4 = First Bulgarian Empire
|image_p1 =
| p5 = Huns
|p2 = Principality of Lower Pannonia
| p6 = Avar Khaganate
|image_p2 =
|s1 = Kingdom of Hungary in the Middle Ages | s1 = Kingdom of Hungary (1000–1301){{!}}Kingdom of Hungary
| image_flag = Flag of Hungary (895-1000).svg
|image_s1 = ]
| flag_border = no
|
| flag_width = 120px
|capital =
| flag_type = Top: Magyar banner of the ]<br/>Bottom: Banner of the {{nowrap|]}}
|
| image_flag2 = Flag of Hungary (11th c. - 1301).svg
|footnotes = <!--- Accepts wikilinks --->
| flag2_border = no
|
| image_coat = Coat of Arms of Hungary (895-1000).svg
|leader1 = ] (c. 895 - c. 907)
| coa_size = 55px
|leader2 = ] (c. 907 - c. 947)
| symbol_type = ]<!--
|leader3 = ] (c. 947 - c. 955)
symbol2 = --><div style="padding:3px 0;">]</div><!--
|leader4 = ] (c. 955 - c. 972)
|leader5 = ] (972 - 997) symbol_type2 = -->] of the ]
| image_map = Kingdom of Hungary 1000.svg
|leader6 = ] (997 - 1000)
| image_map_caption = Principality of Hungary ({{circa}} 1000)
|
| capital = ] and ] (from the reigns of Taksony and Géza)
|title_leader = ]
| religion = {{ubli|]|]|]|]|]}}
| demonym = ]
| footnotes =
| title_leader = ]
| leader1 = ]
| year_leader1 = 890s – {{circa|904}}
| title_deputy = {{nowrap|]}}
| deputy1 = ]
| year_deputy1 = {{circa|895}} – {{circa|907}}
| deputy2 = ]
| year_deputy2 = {{circa|907}} – {{circa|950}}
| deputy3 = ]
| year_deputy3 = {{circa|950}} – {{circa|955}}
| deputy4 = ]
| year_deputy4 = {{circa|955}} – {{circa|972}}
| deputy5 = ]
| year_deputy5 = {{circa|972}} – 997
| deputy6 = ]
| year_deputy6 = 997–1000
| today =
}} }}
The '''Hungarian tribal alliance'''<ref>Lendvai. 2003. p. 15. </ref>, '''Hungarian principality''' <ref name='Hodos'/><ref>Ferenc Glatz, Magyar Történelmi Társulat, , Institute of History of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1990, p. 10</ref><ref>, József Attila Tudom. Bölcs. Kar, 1998, p. 28</ref> or '''Duchy of Hungary'''<ref>Colin Davies, , Macmillan, 1969, p. 181</ref><ref>Jennifer Lawler, , McFarland & Co., 2004, p.13</ref> (also "''Grand Principality''" ''{{lang-hu|Magyar Nagyfejedelemség}}''). Árpád, who lived between 845 and 907, founded the formal Hungarian state in 896.<ref name='Komzsik'>Louis Komzsik, ,Trafford Publishing, 2011 p. 54</ref> This state was established in the ] in 895<ref>, Grolier Incorporated, 2002, p. 581</ref><ref>, Scholastic Library Pub., 2006, p. 581</ref> or 896,<ref name='Komzsik'/><ref>Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae" (published by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Volume 36, 1982, Cited: "Prior to the foundation of the Hungarian Kingdom, in the age of principality, ie between 896 and 1000 AD, the princes of the Arpad dynasty, like the majority of the land-conquering tribes, bore Turkic names"</ref><ref>Zahava Szász Stessel, , Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1995, p. 47</ref> following the 9th-century ]. The '''Grand Principality of Hungary'''<ref name="Bauer">{{Cite book |last=Bauer |first=Susan Wise |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1u2oP2RihIgC&pg=PA586 |title=The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade |date=2010-02-22 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |isbn=978-0-393-07817-6 |pages=586 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ritz-Buranbaeva |first=Oksana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WK_130Hqbr4C&pg=PA19 |title=Culture and Customs of Hungary |last2=Mladineo |first2=Vanja |date=2011-09-22 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-38370-0 |pages=19 |language=en}}</ref> or '''Duchy of Hungary'''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Colin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N3rxAAAAMAAJ&q=%22duchy+of+Hungary%22 |title=The Emergence of Western Society: European History A.D. 300-1200 |date=1969 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-333-03520-7 |pages=181 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lawler |first=Jennifer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AywZAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Duchy+of+Hungary%22 |title=Encyclopedia of the Byzantine Empire |date=2004 |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=978-0-7864-1520-5 |pages=13 |language=en}}</ref> ({{langx|hu|Magyar Nagyfejedelemség}}: "Hungarian Grand Principality",<ref>, Hadtörténeti Intézet és Múzeum, 2001, p. 131</ref> Byzantine {{langx|el|Τουρκία}}) was the earliest documented ] state in the ], established in 895 or 896,<ref name="Komzsik">{{Cite book |last=Komzsik |first=Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zeM462SXveAC&q=%22formal+Hungarian+state%22 |title=Cycles of Time: From Infinity to Eternity |date=2011 |publisher=Trafford Publishing |isbn=978-1-4269-5336-1 |pages=54 |language=en}}</ref><ref name='Acta orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae'/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Stessel |first=Zahava Szász |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZkGeCGGaGnsC&pg=PA47 |title=Wine and Thorns in Tokay Valley: Jewish Life in Hungary : the History of Abaújszántó |date=1995 |publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press |isbn=978-0-8386-3545-2 |language=en}}</ref> following the 9th century ].


The ], a semi-nomadic people, formed a ]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Linehan |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQIrAI_e5eQC&pg=PA79 |title=The Medieval World |last2=Nelson |first2=Janet Laughland |date=2001 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-18151-8 |pages=79 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Khazanov |first=Anatoly Michailovich |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AOyJtA0dYVUC&dq=%22hungarian+tribal+alliance%22&pg=PA103 |title=Nomads in the Sedentary World |last2=Wink |first2=André |date=2001 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-7007-1370-7 |pages=103 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lendvai |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fspnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Hungarian+tribal+alliance%22 |title=The Hungarians: A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat |date=2003 |publisher=C. Hurst |isbn=978-1-85065-682-1 |pages=15 |language=en}}</ref> led by ] (founder of the ]) who arrived from ], their earlier principality east of the Carpathians.<ref name='Lendvai'>Paul Lendvai, , C. Hurst & Co., 2003, pp. 15–29, 533</ref>
The ] (Hungarians), a semi-nomadic group of people led by ] formed the Principality of Hungary at the very end of the 9th century,<ref name='Hodos'>George H. Hodos, , Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999, p. 19 </ref> arriving from ], their earlier principality east of the Carpathians.<ref name='Bartha'/><ref>Imre Lukinich, , Ayer Publishing, 1937, p. 15, Cited: 'Geza's principality' (Geza, the Grand Prince of the Hungarians)</ref><ref name='Lendvai'>Paul Lendvai, , C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2003, p. 29, p. 533</ref>


During the period, the power of the ] seemed to be decreasing irrespective of the success of the Hungarian ]s across Europe. The ], ruled by Hungarian warlords (chieftains), became semi-independent polities (e.g., the domains of ] in Transylvania). These territories were united again only under the rule of ]. The semi-nomadic Hungarian population adopted settled life. The chiefdom ] changed to a state society. From the second half of the 10th century, ] started to spread. The principality was succeeded by the Christian ] with the coronation of ] at ] on Christmas Day 1000 (its alternative date is 1 January 1001).<ref>, Committee for Medieval Studies, University of British Columbia, 1980, p. 159</ref><ref name="Sugar-Hanak">Peter F. Sugar, Péter Hanák, , Indiana University Press, 1994, pp. 12–17</ref><ref>Pál Engel, Tamás Pálosfalvi, Andrew Ayton, , .B.Tauris, 2005, p. 27</ref>
The principality was succeeded by the Christian ] with the coronation of ] in AD 1000.


The period from 896 to 1000 is called "the age of principality" within Hungarian historiography.<ref name='Acta orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae'/>
In contemporary ] sources, the territory of the Hungarian tribal alliance was also known as in ] as "Western '']''", because of its allegiance to the the ].<ref>Peter B. Golden, , Ashgate/Variorum, 2003.

"Tenth-century Byzantine sources, speaking in cultural more than ethnic terms, acknowledged a wide zone of diffusion by referring to the Khazar lands as 'Eastern Tourkia' and Hungary as 'Western Tourkia.'" Carter Vaughn Findley, , Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 51, citing Peter B. Golden, 'Imperial Ideology and the Sources of Political Unity Amongst the Pre-Činggisid Nomads of Western Eurasia,' ''Archivum Eurasiae Medii Aevi'' 2 (1982), 37–76.</ref>
==Etymology==
{{History of Hungary}}
The ethnonym of the Hungarian tribal alliance is uncertain. According to one view, following the description in the 13th century chronicle, '']'', the federation was called "Hetumoger / Seven Magyars" (''"VII principales persone qui Hetumoger dicuntur"'', "seven princely persons who are called Seven Magyars"<ref>Gyula Decsy, A. J. Bodrogligeti, , Otto Harrassowitz, 1991, p. 99</ref>), though the word "Magyar" possibly comes from the name of the most prominent Hungarian tribe, called ''Megyer''. The tribal name "Megyer" became "Magyar" referring to the Hungarian people as a whole.<ref>György Balázs, Károly Szelényi, , Corvina, 1989, p. 8</ref><ref>Alan W. Ertl, , Universal-Publishers, 2008, p. 358</ref> Written sources called Magyars as "Hungarians" prior to their ] when they still lived on the ] (in 837 "Ungri" mentioned by ], in 862 "Ungri" by ], in 881 "Ungari" by the '']'').

In contemporary ] sources, written in ], the country was known as "Western '']''"<ref>Peter B. Golden, , Ashgate/Variorum, 2003.
"Tenth-century Byzantine sources, speaking in cultural more than ethnic terms, acknowledged a wide zone of diffusion by referring to the Khazar lands as 'Eastern Tourkia' and to Hungary as 'Western Tourkia.'" Carter Vaughn Findley, {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205130351/http://www.fatih.edu/~ayasar/HIST388/The%20Turks%20in%20World%20History.pdf |date=5 February 2016 }}, Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 51, citing Peter B. Golden, 'Imperial Ideology and the Sources of Political Unity Amongst the Pre-Činggisid Nomads of Western Eurasia,' ''Archivum Eurasiae Medii Aevi'' 2 (1982), 37–76.</ref><ref>Carter V. Findley, , Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 51</ref> in contrast to ] ''Tourkia.'' The Jewish ] around 960 called the polity "''the land of the Hungrin''" (the land of the Hungarians) in a letter to ].<ref>Raphael Patai, , Wayne State University Press, 1996, p. 29, {{ISBN|978-0814325612}}</ref>


==History== ==History==

{{See also|Hungarian prehistory}}
===Magyar invasion=== ===Background===
{{Main|Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin|Hungarian prehistory}}
{{main|Magyar invasion of Pannonia}}
]'', ]'s and his assistants' vast (1800&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) ], painted to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar invasion of Hungary, now displayed at the ] in Hungary]]
]
On the eve of the arrival of the Hungarians (Magyars), around 895, ], the ] and ]<ref name="Kirschbaum">{{Cite book| last = Kirschbaum | first = Stanislav J. | title = A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival | publisher = ]; ] | year = 1995 | location = New York | pages =26 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3JV_ARmBtYgC&q=A+History+of+Slovakia:+The+Struggle+for+Survival | isbn = 978-0-312-10403-0 | access-date = 2009-10-09}} Cited: "Great Moravia was a vassal state of the Germanic Frankish Kingdom and paid an annual tribute to it."</ref> ruled the territory of the ]. The Hungarians had much knowledge about this region because they were frequently hired as mercenaries by the surrounding polities and had led their own campaigns in this area for decades.<ref>István Süli-Zakar, The Most Important Geopolitical and Histogeographical Questions of the Age of the Conquest and the Foundation of the Hungarian State, In: , 2011, p. 12, {{ISBN|978-963-89167-3-0}}</ref> This area had been sparsely populated<ref name="Council of Europe">Alfried Wieczorek, Hans-Martin Hinz, Council of Europe. Art Exhibition, , Volume 1, Theiss, 2000, pp. 363-372</ref><ref>Bryan Cartledge, Bryan Cartledge (Sir.), , Timewell Press, 2006, p.6</ref> since Charlemagne's destruction of the ] state in 803, and the Magyars were able to move in peacefully and virtually unopposed during the 9th century.<ref name="Wiebenson"/> The first mention of them living in the region dates back to 862.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Szőke |first=M. Béla |url=http://real.mtak.hu/20927/1/Szokekotet_angol_u_085622.294918.pdf |title=The Carolingian Age in the Carpathians |publisher=] |year=2014 |isbn=978-615-5209-17-8 |editor-last=Gergely |editor-first=Katalin |location=] |page=112 |translator-last=Pokoly |translator-first=Judit |editor-last2=Ritoók |editor-first2=Ágnes |translator-last2=Strong |translator-first2=Lara |translator-last3=Sullivan |translator-first3=Christopher}}</ref> The ] proper started from 894, when armed conflicts opened with the ] and ] after the requests for help from ] and ].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Engel |first1=Pál |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3RKJDwAAQBAJ |title=The Realm of St Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary, 895-1526 |last2=Ayton |first2=Andrew |date=2001-02-23 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-0-85773-173-9 |language=en}}</ref> During the occupation, the Hungarians found sparse population and met no well-established states or effective control of any empire in the plain. They were able to take over the basin quickly,<ref name=":fsf">{{Cite book |last1=Barta |first1=István |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofhungary0000magy |title=A history of Hungary |last2=Berend |first2=T. Iván |last3=Hanák |first3=Péter |last4=Lackó |first4=Miklós |last5=Makkai |first5=László |last6=Nagy |first6=L. Zsuzsa |last7=Ránki |first7=György |publisher=Collet's |year=1975 |editor-last=Pamlényi |editor-first=Ervin |page=22|isbn=9780569077002 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Macartney |first=Carlile A. |url=https://archive.org/details/hungaryshorthist0000maca |title=Hungary: a short history |publisher=Chicago University Press |year=1962 |isbn=9780852240359 |page=5}}</ref> defeating the ], disintegrating the ], and firmly establishing their state<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Szabados |first=György |year=2019 |editor-last=Miljan |editor-first=Suzana |editor2-last=B. Halász |editor2-first=Éva |editor3-last=Simon |editor3-first=Alexandru |title=The origins and the transformation of the early Hungarian state |url=http://real.mtak.hu/106552/1/Szabados2019Leedskonftanulmany.pdf |journal=Reform and Renewal in Medieval East and Central Europe: Politics, Law and Society |location=]}}</ref> there by 900.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Engel |first=Pál |title=Beilleszkedés Európába a kezdetektől 1440-ig |publisher=Háttér Lapkiadó és Könykiadó |year=1990 |isbn=963-7403-892 |editor-last=Glatz |editor-first=Ferenc |volume=Magyarok Európában I |location=] |page=97 |editor-last2=Burucs |editor-first2=Kornélia}}</ref> The invasion was not aimed at plundering the acquired lands as attacks were led by '']'' ] and '']'' ], the two highest-ranking leaders,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kontler |first=László |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofhungary0000kont |title=A history of Hungary: millennium in Central Europe |publisher=Palgrave Macmilllan |year=2002 |page=42}}</ref> who left no mass graves behind them showing that the transition back to an ]-like system was peaceful for the locals.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Regényes történelem |language=hu |year=2022 |people=Borbála Obrusánszky, Endre Neparáczki, Miklós Makoldi}}</ref> Archaeological findings indicate that they settled in the lands near the ] and ] by this time.<ref name=":fsf" />

===Military achievements===
{{See also|Hungarian invasions of Europe}} {{See also|Hungarian invasions of Europe}}
The principality as a warrior state,<ref name="Bauer"/> with a new-found military might, conducted vigorous raids ranging widely from Constantinople to central Spain. ] were defeated decisively by the Hungarians between 907 and 910.<ref>Peter Heather, , Pan Macmillan, 2012, p. 369, {{ISBN|9780199892266}}</ref>
]'', ]'s and his assistants' vast (1800 m<sup>2</sup>) ], painted to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of Hungary, now displayed at ] in Hungary]]
The Hungarians succeeded in extending the '']'' Bavarian-Hungarian border to the ] (until 955),<ref>Clifford Rogers, , Oxford University Press, 2010, p. 292</ref> and the principality was not attacked from this direction for 100 years after the ].<ref name='Sugar-Hanak'/> The intermittent Hungarian campaigns lasted until 970, but two military defeats in ] and ] marked a shift in the evolution of the Hungarian principality.<ref>Oksana Buranbaeva Culture and Customs of Hungary</ref>
On the eve of the arrival of the Magyars, ], the ] and ] (a vassal state of East Francia)<ref name="Kirschbaum">{{Cite book| last = Kirschbaum | first = Stanislav J. | authorlink = | title = A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival | publisher = ]; ] | year = 1995 | location = New York | pages =26 | url = http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3JV_ARmBtYgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=A+History+of+Slovakia:+The+Struggle+for+Survival&hl=en&ei=41ZJTZDLJoHQhAeqlsXODg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false | isbn = 978-0-312-10403-0 | accessdate = 2009-10-09}} Cited: "Great Moravia was a vassal state of the Germanic Frankish Kingdom and paid an annual tribute to it."</ref> ruled the territory of the ]. This area had been sparsely populated,<ref>Bryan Cartledge, Bryan Cartledge (Sir.), , Timewell Press, 2006, p.6</ref><ref name="Council of Europe">Alfried Wieczorek, Hans-Martin Hinz, Council of Europe. Art Exhibition, , Volume 1, Theiss, 2000, pp. 363-372</ref> since Charlemagne’s destruction of the Avar state in 803 and the Magyars (Hungarians) were able to move in virtually unopposed, peacefully.<ref name="Wiebenson"/>
The freshly unified Hungarians led by Árpád settled in the Carpathian Basin starting in 895. This now highly-centralized and controlled<ref name='Gubcsi'/> principality, with a new-found military force, conducted vigorous raids from Constantinople to as far away as central Spain and the periodic attacks lasted till 970.


===Transition=== ===Transition===
The change from a ranked chiefdom ] to a state society was one of the most important developments during this time.<ref>, Corvina Press, 1990, p. 140</ref> Initially, the Magyars retained a semi-nomadic lifestyle, practising ]: they would migrate along a river between winter and summer pastures, finding water for their livestock.<ref name='Gubcsi'>Lajos Gubcsi, , MoD Zrínyi Media Ltd, 2011</ref> According to ]'s theory<ref name='Révész, László'/> derived from placenames, Árpád's winter quarters -clearly after his occupation of Pannonia in 900- were possibly in 'Árpádváros' (Árpád's town), now a district of ], and his summer quarters -as confirmed by ]- were on ].<ref name='Gubcsi'/> Later, his new summer quarters were in ]<ref name='Gubcsi'/> according to this theory, however the exact location of the early center of the state is disputed. According to Gyula Kristó the center was located between the ] and ] rivers,<ref name='Révész, László'/> but the archaeological findings imply a location in the region of the Upper Tisza.<ref name='Révész, László'>{{Cite book| last =Révész| first =László| author-link =˙| title =A honfoglaló magyarok Északkelet- Magyarországon| publisher =Új Holnap 41| date =March 1996| url =http://oldwww.uni-miskolc.hu/city/Olvaso/ujholnap/marcius/revesz.htm| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120425052913/http://oldwww.uni-miskolc.hu/city/Olvaso/ujholnap/marcius/revesz.htm| archive-date =25 April 2012}}</ref>
]
]


]'s {{Lang|la|]}}, written around 950 AD, tries to define precisely the whole land of the Hungarians, or ''Tourkia''.<ref name='Prinzing'>Günter Prinzing, Maciej Salamon, , Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 1999, pp. 27-33</ref> Constantine described the previous inhabitants of Hungary (''e.g.'', the ]), described early Hungarian settlements and neighbors, and located Hungarian rivers (Temes, Maros, Körös, Tisza, Tutisz).<ref name='Prinzing'/> Constantine had much more knowledge about the eastern parts of Hungary; therefore, according to one theory, ''Tourkia'' did not mean the land of the whole federation, but a tribal settlement and the source of the description of Hungary could have been ] whose tribe populated the five rivers around 950.<ref name='Prinzing'/> According to another hypothesis, mainly based on Constantine's description, the Hungarians started to really settle western Hungary (]) only after 950, because the eastern part of the country was more suitable for a nomadic lifestyle.<ref name='Prinzing'/>


]
The movement from a ranked chiefdom ] to state society was one of the most important change during this time.<ref>, Corvina Press, 1990, p. 140</ref> In the first time, Magyars retained a semi-nomadic lifestye changing pastures between winter and summer, Hungarians would migrate between winter and summer dwelling-places along a river, finding water for their livestock.<ref name='Gubcsi'>Lajos Gubcsi, , MoD Zrínyi Media Ltd, 2011</ref> From placenames, Árpád's winter quarters -clearly after his occupation of Pannonia in 900- were possibly in 'Árpádváros' (Árpád's town), now a district of ].<ref name='Gubcsi'/> His summer quarters -as confirmed by Anonymus- were in ]. Later, his new summer quarters were in ].<ref name='Gubcsi'/><br />
Forced by changed economic circumstances, insufficient pasturage to support a nomad society and the impossibility of moving on,<ref name='Berend'>Nóra Berend, , Cambridge University Press, 2001, p. 19</ref> the semi-nomadic Hungarian lifestyle began to transform and they adopted settled life. Magyars ceased being semi-nomads and turned to agriculture.<ref name="Kirschbaum"/> However the beginning of conversion of Hungarian society to agriculture can be dated back to the 8th century.<ref name='Bartha'>Antal Bartha, , Akadémiai Kiadó, 1975, pp- 53-84, ISBN 978-9630503082</ref> The society began to show uniform image, the local Slavic and other populations merged with the Hungarians.<ref name='Berend'/>The Hungarian tribal leaders and their clans established fortified centers in the country and later their castles became centers of the counties.<ref name="Wiebenson">Dora Wiebenson, József Sisa, Pál Lövei, , MIT Press, 1998, p. 11, ISBN 978-0-262-23192-3</ref> The whole system of Hungarian villages grew up in the 10th century.<ref name='Gubcsi'/> <br /> Due to changed economic circumstances, insufficient pasturage to support a nomadic society and the impossibility of moving on,<ref name='Berend'>Nóra Berend, , Cambridge University Press, 2001, p. 19</ref> the semi-nomadic Hungarian lifestyle began to change and the Magyars adopted a settled life and turned to agriculture,<ref name="Kirschbaum"/> though the start of this change can be dated to the 8th century.<ref name='Bartha'>Antal Bartha, , Akadémiai Kiadó, 1975, pp- 53-84, {{ISBN|978-963-05-0308-2}}</ref> The society became more homogeneous: the local Slavic and other populations merged with the Hungarians.<ref name='Berend'/> The Hungarian tribal leaders and their clans established fortified centers in the country and later their castles became centers of the counties.<ref name="Wiebenson">Dora Wiebenson, József Sisa, Pál Lövei, , MIT Press, 1998, p. 11, {{ISBN|978-0-262-23192-3}}</ref> The whole system of Hungarian villages developed in the 10th century.<ref name='Gubcsi'/>

Fajsz and Taksony, the Grand Princes of the Hungarians, began to reform the power structure.<ref name='Kósa'>László Kósa, István Soós, , Akadémiai Kiadó, 1999, p. 113</ref><ref name='Révész'>{{Cite book| last = Révész | first = László | authorlink = ˙| coauthors = | title = Hunok, Avarok, Magyarok (Huns, Avars, Magyars)| publisher = Hitel folyóirat (Magazine of Hitel) | year = 20.12.2010 | location = | page = | url = http://www.hitelfolyoirat.hu/dl/pdf/20110202-11330.pdf| doi = | id = | isbn = }}</ref> They invited Christian missionaries for the first time and built forts.<ref name='Kósa'/> Taksony abolished the old center of the Hungarian principality (possibly at Upper ]) and sought a new one at ]<ref name='Révész'/> and ].<ref>{{Cite book| last = Révész | first = László | authorlink = ˙| coauthors = | title = A Felső-Tisza-vidék honfoglalás kori temetői | publisher = História (Magazine of História) | year = 02.2008 | location = | page = | url = http://www.historia.hu/| doi = | id = | isbn = }}</ref> Taksony also renewed the old style military attendance, changed the weaponry of the army, implemented large-scale organized resettlements of the Hungarian population.<ref name='Révész'/><br />
Fajsz and Taksony, the Grand Princes of the Hungarians, began to reform the power structure.<ref name='Kósa'>László Kósa, István Soós, , Akadémiai Kiadó, 1999, p. 113</ref><ref name='Révész'>{{Cite book| last =Révész| first =László| title =Hunok, Avarok, Magyarok (Huns, Avars, Magyars)| publisher =Hitel folyóirat (Magazine of Hitel)| date =2010-12-20| url =http://www.hitelfolyoirat.hu/dl/pdf/20110202-11330.pdf| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120319062534/http://www.hitelfolyoirat.hu/dl/pdf/20110202-11330.pdf| archive-date =19 March 2012}}</ref> They invited Christian missionaries for the first time and built forts.<ref name='Kósa'/> Taksony abolished the old center of the Hungarian principality (possibly at Upper ]) and sought new ones at ]<ref name='Révész'/> and ].<ref>{{Cite book | last = Révész | first = László | title = A Felső-Tisza-vidék honfoglalás kori temetői |language=hu |trans-title=Cemeteries from the time of the conquest of the Upper Tisza region | publisher = História | date = February 2008 | url = http://www.historia.hu/archivum/2008/tart0802.htm | archive-date = 2008-04-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080409231927/http://www.historia.hu:80/archivum/2008/tart0802.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>{{verify inline|reason=URL given was originally the root of this website which was obviously wrong. This page mentions the book, but the information there doesn't seem very helpful – is the URL really needed?|date=August 2024}} Taksony also reintroduced the old style military service, changed the weaponry of the army, and implemented large-scale organized resettlements of the Hungarian population.<ref name='Révész'/>
After the ], the ] was the primary enemy for the Hungarians.<ref name='Acta historica'>József Attila Tudományegyetem., Bölcsészettudományi Kar (University of József Attila), Acta historica, Volumes 92-98, 1991, p. 3</ref> The Byzantine expansion threatened the Hungarians, because the subjugated First Bulgarian Empire were in alliance with the Magyars at that time.<ref name='Acta historica'/> The situation became more difficult for the principality when the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire made an alliance in 972.<ref name='Acta historica'/> In 973, twelve illustrious Magyar envoys, whom probably Géza had assigned, participated in the Diet held by ]. Géza established closed ties with the Bavarian court, inviting missionaries and marrying his son to Gisela, daughter of the Duke Henry II.<ref name='Berend'/> Géza of the Árpád dynasty, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, who ruled only part of the united territory, the nominal overlord of all seven ], intended to integrate Hungary into Christian Western Europe, rebuilding the state according to the Western political and social model. Géza's first-born son, Saint Stephen I became the first King of Hungary after defeating his cousin ], who also claimed the throne.

The consolidation of the Hungarian state began during the reign of ].<ref>Stanislav J. Kirschbaum </ref> After the ], the ] was the main enemy of the Hungarians.<ref name='Acta historica'>József Attila Tudományegyetem., Bölcsészettudományi Kar (University of József Attila), ''Acta historica'', Volumes 92–98, 1991, p. 3</ref> The Byzantine expansion threatened the Hungarians, since the subjugated First Bulgarian Empire was allied with the Magyars at that time.<ref name='Acta historica'/> The situation became more difficult for the principality when the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire made an alliance in 972.<ref name='Acta historica'/> In 973, twelve illustrious Magyar envoys, whom Géza had probably appointed, participated in the Diet held by ]. Géza established close ties with the Bavarian court, inviting missionaries and marrying his son to Gisela, daughter of Duke Henry II.<ref name='Berend'/> Géza of the Árpád dynasty, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, who ruled only part of the united territory, the nominal overlord of all seven ], intended to integrate Hungary into Christian Western Europe, rebuilding the state according to the Western political and social model. Géza's eldest son St Stephen (István, ]) became the first King of Hungary after defeating his uncle ], who also claimed the throne. The unification of Hungary, the foundation of the Christian state<ref>Miklós Molnár, </ref> and its transformation into a European feudal monarchy was accomplished by Stephen.


===Christianization=== ===Christianization===
{{Main|History of Christianity in Hungary}} {{Main|History of Christianity in Hungary}}
{{See also|Metropolitanate of Tourkia}}
]
], founded by Prince Géza in 996]]


Hungary was emerged on the frontier of ].<ref name='Berend'/> From the second half of the 10th century, Christianity flourished as Catholic missionaries arrived from Germany. Between 945 and 963, the main office-holders of Principality (the Grand Prince (Taksony), the Gyula, and the Horka) were willing to christen.<ref>András Gerő, A magyar történelem vitatott személyiségei, Volume 3, Kossuth, 2004, p. 13, ISBN 978-9630945974</ref> The new Hungarian state was located on the border with ].<ref name='Berend'/> Since the second half of the 10th century AD, ] was flourished in ] as the ] ] ] arrived from ]. Between 945 and 963, the main office-holders of the Principality (the ] and the ]) agreed to convert to Christianity.<ref>András Gerő, A magyar történelem vitatott személyiségei, Volume 3, Kossuth, 2004, p. 13, {{ISBN|978-963-09-4597-4}}</ref><ref>Mark Whittow, , University of California Press, 1996, p. 294</ref>
In 973 Géza I and all his household were baptised, and a formal peace concluded with Emperor Otto I, however he remained essentially pagan even after his baptism.<ref name='Lendvai'/> Due to Géza's fater, Taksony, Géza was educated to become a ] prince.<ref>Ferenc Glatz, , Pallas Lap- és Könyvkiadó Vállalat, 1988, p. 21</ref> The first Hungarian Benedictine monastery was founded in 996 by Prince Géza. During Géza's reign, the nation conclusively renounced its nomadic way of life and within a few decades of the ] became a Christian kingdom.<ref name='Lendvai'/> In 973 Géza I and all his household were baptised, and a formal peace concluded with the ] ]; however he remained essentially pagan even after his baptism:<ref name='Lendvai'/> Géza had been educated by his father Taksony as a ] prince.<ref>Ferenc Glatz, , Pallas Lap- és Könyvkiadó Vállalat, 1988, p. 21</ref> The first Hungarian Benedictine monastery was founded in 996 by Prince Géza. During Géza's reign, the nation conclusively renounced its nomadic way of life and within a few decades of the ] became a Christian kingdom.<ref name='Lendvai'/>


==Organization of the state== ==Organization of the state==
]
{{Expand section|date=September 2011}}
Until 907 (or 904), the Hungarian state was controlled by joint rule (shaped from the ]). The kingship was divided between the spiritual leader ] and the military leader ]. Possibly, after the Kende ]'s death, the principality changed its conformation and became a single-head principality led by ]. According to the ] the oldest members of the ruling clan inherited the principality. Likely, the Grand princes of Hungary did not possess superior power, because during the military campaigns to the west and to the south the princely power had diminished. <ref name='Reutel'>Timothy Reuter, , Cambridge University Press, 1995, p. 543-545, ISBN 9780521364478</ref> Moreover, the records did not negotiate Grand Princes in the first half of the 10th century, except in one case, when they mention ] as 'king of Hungary' (''Taxis-dux, dux Tocsun'') in 947.<ref name='Reutel'/> The role of military leaders (''Bulcsú, Lél'') grew more significant.<ref name='Reutel'/> <br /> Until 907 (or 904), the Hungarian state was under joint rule (perhaps adopted from the ]). The kingship had been divided between the ] king (some sources report the titles "prince"<ref>Kevin Alan Brook, , Rowman & Littlefield, 2009, p. 253</ref> or "]"<ref name='Spinei'>Victor Spinei, , Hakkert, 2006, p. 42</ref>), or ], and the military leader, or ]. It is not known which of the two roles were assigned to Árpád and which to ].{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} Possibly, after the Kende Kurszán's death, this division ceased and ] became the sole ruler of the principality. The Byzantine ] called Árpád "''ho megas Tourkias ]''" (the great prince of Tourkia),<ref name='Reutel'/> and all of the 10th-century princes who ruled the country held this title.<ref name="University of József Attila">, József Attila Tudom. Bölcs. Kar, 1998, p. 28</ref> According to the ] the oldest members of the ruling clan inherited the principality. The Grand Princes of Hungary probably did not hold superior power, because during the military campaigns to the west and to the south the initially strong<ref>Michael David Harkavy, , Trident Press International, 1998, p. 70</ref> princely power had decreased.<ref name='Reutel'>Timothy Reuter, , Cambridge University Press, 1995, p. 543-545, {{ISBN|978-0-521-36447-8}}</ref> Moreover, the records do not refer to Grand Princes in the first half of the 10th century, except in one case, where they mention ] as 'duke of Hungary' (''Taxis-dux, dux Tocsun'') in 947.<ref name='Reutel'/> The role of military leaders (''], ]'') grew more significant.<ref name='Reutel'/> The princes of the ] bore ] names as did the majority of the Hungarian tribes.<ref name="Acta orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae">{{Cite book |last=Ligeti |first=Lajos |title=Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae |publisher=Akadémiai Kiadó |year=1982 |volume=36 |pages=419 |language=en}}</ref>

===Titles=== ===Titles===
*''Megas archon'' or ''Magnus princeps'', the Grand Prince of Hungarians (first rank)<ref name='Reutel'/> *'']'' (in Arabic sources) or ''megas archon'' (in Byzantine sources), rex (in Latin sources), the Grand Prince of Hungarians (after 907 CE)
*''Gyla'' or ''djila'', ], the military leader<ref name='Reutel'/> (second rank)<ref name='Reutel'/> *''Gyla'' or ''djila'' (]) or ''magnus princeps'' (in western sources), the military leader<ref name='Reutel'/> (second rank),<ref name='Reutel'/> the Grand Prince of Hungarians<ref name='Reutel'/>
*''Horca'', ''Kharkhas'', the judge<ref name='Róna-Tas'> András Róna-Tas, A honfoglaló magyar nép, Balassi Kiadó Budapest, 1997, ISBN 963 506 140 4 </ref> (third rank)<ref name='Reutel'/> *'']'', ''Kharkhas'', the judge<ref name='Róna-Tas'>András Róna-Tas, A honfoglaló magyar nép, Balassi Kiadó Budapest, 1997, {{ISBN|963-506-140-4}}</ref> (third rank)<ref name='Reutel'/>

*], the spiritual leader<ref name='Róna-Tas'/> (until 907 CE)
==Population==
{{See also|Demographics of Hungary}}
There are various estimates of the size of the country's population in the 10th century, ranging from 250,000 to 1.5 million in 900 AD. There is no archaeological evidence that the Hungarian nobles lived in castles in the 10th century.{{sfn|Berend|Urbańczyk|Wiszewski|2013|p=72}} Archaeology revealed only one fortified building dated to the late 9th century (the castle of ]).{{sfn|Wolf|Takács|2011|p=238}} Only excavations of 11th century buildings give certain evidence of castle building.{{sfn|Wolf|Takács|2011|p=238}} However, the result of the excavations in ] may imply that the prelates and nobles lived in stone houses as early as the 10th century.{{sfn|Wolf|2008|p=14}} Muslim geographers mentioned that Hungarians lived in tents.{{sfn|Balassa|1997|p=291}} Beside tents, the common people lived in pit-dwellings, though there is archaeological proof of the appearance of multi-roomed{{sfn|Wolf|Takács|2011|p=209}} and wood-and-stone house types.{{sfn|Wolf|2008|pp=13–14}}

==Further theories==
Some historians believe that Prince Árpád's people were Turkic speakers and the Magyars had been in the Basin since 680s. Their main argument is that the newcomers' cemeteries are too small, indicating that the population was not big enough to make Magyar the dominant language in the Basin. However, it seems that Árpád led the Megyer tribe, and it would be tricky if the Megyer tribe would have spoken Bulgar Turkic.{{clarify|date=May 2020}} Of course, in principle anything may happen in a symbiosis.<ref></ref>

==See also== ==See also==
* ]
{{portal|Hungary}}
* ]
* ] * ]
* ]

* ]
{{-}}
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{reflist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2011}}
=== Secondary sources ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book | editor-last = Balassa | editor-first = Iván | title = Magyar Néprajz IV.|trans-title=Hungarian ethnography IV.| publisher = Akadémiai Kiadó | year = 1997 | location = Budapest | isbn = 963-05-7325-3}}
*{{cite book |last1=Berend |first1=Nora |last2=Urbańczyk |first2=Przemysław |last3=Wiszewski |first3=Przemysław |year=2013 |title=Central Europe in the High Middle Ages: Bohemia, Hungary and Poland, c. 900-c. 1300 |publisher= Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-78156-5 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Wolf |first1=Mária |last2=Takács |first2=Miklós |editor-last=Müller |editor-first=Róbert |title= Régészeti Kézikönyv |trans-title=Handbook of archaeology |publisher=Magyar Régész Szövetség |year=2011 |pages=209–248|chapter=Sáncok, földvárak" ("Ramparts, earthworks") by Wolf; "A középkori falusias települések feltárása" ("Excavation of the medieval rural settlements") by Takács |isbn=978-963-08-0860-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Wolf |first=Mária |title=A borsodi földvár |url=http://mek.oszk.hu/12900/12962/12962.pdf|publisher=Művelődési Központ, Könyvtár és Múzeum, Edelény |year=2008 |isbn=978-963-87047-3-3 }}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last= |first= |url=https://mki.gov.hu/assets/pdf/MKI_EN_006_kings_and_saints_B5_web.pdf |title=Kings and Saints – The Age of the Árpáds |publisher=Institute of Hungarian Research |year=2022 |isbn=978-615-6117-65-6 |location=Budapest, Székesfehérvár}}
* {{cite web | url=http://human.geo.science.unideb.hu/Cikkek/Cikk.pdf | title=New Results of Cross-Border Co-operation | publisher=The Department of Social Geography and Regional Development Planning of the University of Debrecen; et al. | date=December 2011 | access-date=2 June 2012 | author=Kozma, Gábor (Editor)|display-authors=etal}} {{ISBN|9789638916730}}

{{coord missing|Hungary}}


{{Hungary articles}}


] ]
] ]
]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duchy of Hungary}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 21:32, 14 November 2024

State in Central Europe (c. 895–1000)

This article is about the Hungarian monarchy in the Early Middle Ages. For the principality ruled by Stephen Bocskai in the Early Modern Period, see Stephen Bocskai.
Grand Principality of HungaryMagyar Nagyfejedelemség (Hungarian)
c. 895–1000
Árpád dynasty
Flag of Gyula/Kende of the Hungarians Top: Magyar banner of the Conquest Era
Bottom: Banner of the Árpád dynasty Attributed arms from the Chronicon Pictum (c. 1370) Arms of the Árpád dynasty of Gyula/Kende of the Hungarians Attributed arms from the Chronicon Pictum (c. 1370)Coat of armsArms of the Árpád dynasty
Principality of Hungary (c. 1000)Principality of Hungary (c. 1000)
StatusPrincipality
CapitalEsztergom and Székesfehérvár (from the reigns of Taksony and Géza)
Religion
Demonym(s)Hungarian
Government
Kende 
• 890s – c. 904 Kurszán
Grand Prince 
• c. 895 – c. 907 Árpád
• c. 907 – c. 950 Zoltán
• c. 950 – c. 955 Fajsz
• c. 955 – c. 972 Taksony
• c. 972 – 997 Géza
• 997–1000 Stephen
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established c. 895
• Hungarian invasions of Europe 839–970
• Battle of Pressburg 4–6 July 907
• Battle of Lechfeld 10–12 August 955
• Koppány's revolt 997
• Coronation of Stephen I 25 December 1000
or 1 January 1001
Preceded by Succeeded by
Etelköz
Great Moravia
Principality of Lower Pannonia
First Bulgarian Empire
Huns
Avar Khaganate
Kingdom of Hungary

The Grand Principality of Hungary or Duchy of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyar Nagyfejedelemség: "Hungarian Grand Principality", Byzantine Greek: Τουρκία) was the earliest documented Hungarian state in the Carpathian Basin, established in 895 or 896, following the 9th century Magyar invasion of the Carpathian Basin.

The Hungarians, a semi-nomadic people, formed a tribal alliance led by Árpád (founder of the Árpád dynasty) who arrived from Etelköz, their earlier principality east of the Carpathians.

During the period, the power of the Hungarian Grand Prince seemed to be decreasing irrespective of the success of the Hungarian military raids across Europe. The tribal territories, ruled by Hungarian warlords (chieftains), became semi-independent polities (e.g., the domains of Gyula the Younger in Transylvania). These territories were united again only under the rule of St. Stephen. The semi-nomadic Hungarian population adopted settled life. The chiefdom society changed to a state society. From the second half of the 10th century, Christianity started to spread. The principality was succeeded by the Christian Kingdom of Hungary with the coronation of St Stephen I at Esztergom on Christmas Day 1000 (its alternative date is 1 January 1001).

The period from 896 to 1000 is called "the age of principality" within Hungarian historiography.

Etymology

Part of a series on the
History of Hungary
Early history
Early medieval
Kingdom of the Gepids454–567
Ostrogothic Kingdom469–553
Avar Khaganate567–822
Hungarian invasions of Europe~800–970
Hungarian conquest862–895
Medieval
Principality of Hungary895–1000
Kingdom of Hungary1000–1301
Personal union with Croatia1102–1918
Golden Bull1222
Mongol invasion of Hungary1241–1242
Kingdom of Hungary1301–1526
Ottoman Wars1366–1526
Early modern
Reformation1520
Ottoman Wars1526–1699
Eastern Hungarian Kingdom1526–1570
Royal Hungary1526–1699
Ottoman Hungary1541–1699
Principality of Transylvania1570–1711
Bocskai uprising1604–1606
Wesselényi conspiracy1664–1671
Principality of Upper Hungary1682–1685
Kingdom of Hungary1699–1867
Late modern
Rákóczi's War of Independence1703–1711
Principality of Transylvania1711–1867
Hungarian Reform Era1825–1848
Revolution of 18481848–1849
Hungarian State1849
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy1867–1918
Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen1867–1918
World War I1914–1918
Interwar period1918–1941
Hungarian People's Republic1918–1919
Hungarian Soviet Republic1919
Hungarian Republic1919–1920
Treaty of Trianon1920
Kingdom of Hungary1920–1946
First Vienna Award1938
Governorate of Subcarpathia1939–1945
Second Vienna Award1940
Revisions of Délvidék1941
World War II1941–1945
Contemporary
Second Hungarian Republic1946–1949
Hungarian People's Republic1949–1989
Revolution of 1956 1956
Goulash Communism1956–1989
Third Hungarian Republic1989–2012
Hungarysince 2012
Topics
flag Hungary portal

The ethnonym of the Hungarian tribal alliance is uncertain. According to one view, following the description in the 13th century chronicle, Gesta Hungarorum, the federation was called "Hetumoger / Seven Magyars" ("VII principales persone qui Hetumoger dicuntur", "seven princely persons who are called Seven Magyars"), though the word "Magyar" possibly comes from the name of the most prominent Hungarian tribe, called Megyer. The tribal name "Megyer" became "Magyar" referring to the Hungarian people as a whole. Written sources called Magyars as "Hungarians" prior to their invasion of the Carpathian Basin when they still lived on the steppes of Eastern Europe (in 837 "Ungri" mentioned by Georgius Monachus, in 862 "Ungri" by Annales Bertiniani, in 881 "Ungari" by the Annales ex Annalibus Iuvavensibus).

In contemporary Byzantine sources, written in Greek, the country was known as "Western Tourkia" in contrast to Eastern (Khazar) Tourkia. The Jewish Hasdai ibn Shaprut around 960 called the polity "the land of the Hungrin" (the land of the Hungarians) in a letter to Joseph of the Khazars.

History

Background

Main articles: Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin and Hungarian prehistory
A detail of the Arrival of the Hungarians, Árpád Feszty's and his assistants' vast (1800 m) cyclorama, painted to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar invasion of Hungary, now displayed at the Ópusztaszer National Heritage Park in Hungary
Europe around 900

On the eve of the arrival of the Hungarians (Magyars), around 895, East Francia, the First Bulgarian Empire and Great Moravia ruled the territory of the Carpathian Basin. The Hungarians had much knowledge about this region because they were frequently hired as mercenaries by the surrounding polities and had led their own campaigns in this area for decades. This area had been sparsely populated since Charlemagne's destruction of the Avar state in 803, and the Magyars were able to move in peacefully and virtually unopposed during the 9th century. The first mention of them living in the region dates back to 862. The conquest proper started from 894, when armed conflicts opened with the Bulgarians and Moravians after the requests for help from Arnulf, Frankish king and Leo VI, Byzantine emperor. During the occupation, the Hungarians found sparse population and met no well-established states or effective control of any empire in the plain. They were able to take over the basin quickly, defeating the First Bulgarian Tsardom, disintegrating the Principality of Moravia, and firmly establishing their state there by 900. The invasion was not aimed at plundering the acquired lands as attacks were led by gyula Árpád and kende Kurszán, the two highest-ranking leaders, who left no mass graves behind them showing that the transition back to an Avar-like system was peaceful for the locals. Archaeological findings indicate that they settled in the lands near the Sava and Nyitra by this time.

Military achievements

See also: Hungarian invasions of Europe

The principality as a warrior state, with a new-found military might, conducted vigorous raids ranging widely from Constantinople to central Spain. Three major Frankish imperial armies were defeated decisively by the Hungarians between 907 and 910. The Hungarians succeeded in extending the de jure Bavarian-Hungarian border to the River Enns (until 955), and the principality was not attacked from this direction for 100 years after the Battle of Pressburg. The intermittent Hungarian campaigns lasted until 970, but two military defeats in 955 (Lechfeld) and 970 (Arcadiopolis) marked a shift in the evolution of the Hungarian principality.

Transition

The change from a ranked chiefdom society to a state society was one of the most important developments during this time. Initially, the Magyars retained a semi-nomadic lifestyle, practising transhumance: they would migrate along a river between winter and summer pastures, finding water for their livestock. According to Györffy's theory derived from placenames, Árpád's winter quarters -clearly after his occupation of Pannonia in 900- were possibly in 'Árpádváros' (Árpád's town), now a district of Pécs, and his summer quarters -as confirmed by Anonymus- were on Csepel Island. Later, his new summer quarters were in Csallóköz according to this theory, however the exact location of the early center of the state is disputed. According to Gyula Kristó the center was located between the Danube and Tisza rivers, but the archaeological findings imply a location in the region of the Upper Tisza.

Constantine VII's De Administrando Imperio, written around 950 AD, tries to define precisely the whole land of the Hungarians, or Tourkia. Constantine described the previous inhabitants of Hungary (e.g., the Moravians), described early Hungarian settlements and neighbors, and located Hungarian rivers (Temes, Maros, Körös, Tisza, Tutisz). Constantine had much more knowledge about the eastern parts of Hungary; therefore, according to one theory, Tourkia did not mean the land of the whole federation, but a tribal settlement and the source of the description of Hungary could have been Gyula whose tribe populated the five rivers around 950. According to another hypothesis, mainly based on Constantine's description, the Hungarians started to really settle western Hungary (Transdanubia) only after 950, because the eastern part of the country was more suitable for a nomadic lifestyle.

The Hungarian campaign in the East Frankish duchies of 910

Due to changed economic circumstances, insufficient pasturage to support a nomadic society and the impossibility of moving on, the semi-nomadic Hungarian lifestyle began to change and the Magyars adopted a settled life and turned to agriculture, though the start of this change can be dated to the 8th century. The society became more homogeneous: the local Slavic and other populations merged with the Hungarians. The Hungarian tribal leaders and their clans established fortified centers in the country and later their castles became centers of the counties. The whole system of Hungarian villages developed in the 10th century.

Fajsz and Taksony, the Grand Princes of the Hungarians, began to reform the power structure. They invited Christian missionaries for the first time and built forts. Taksony abolished the old center of the Hungarian principality (possibly at Upper Tisza) and sought new ones at Székesfehérvár and Esztergom. Taksony also reintroduced the old style military service, changed the weaponry of the army, and implemented large-scale organized resettlements of the Hungarian population.

The consolidation of the Hungarian state began during the reign of Géza. After the battle of Arcadiopolis, the Byzantine Empire was the main enemy of the Hungarians. The Byzantine expansion threatened the Hungarians, since the subjugated First Bulgarian Empire was allied with the Magyars at that time. The situation became more difficult for the principality when the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire made an alliance in 972. In 973, twelve illustrious Magyar envoys, whom Géza had probably appointed, participated in the Diet held by Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor. Géza established close ties with the Bavarian court, inviting missionaries and marrying his son to Gisela, daughter of Duke Henry II. Géza of the Árpád dynasty, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, who ruled only part of the united territory, the nominal overlord of all seven Magyar tribes, intended to integrate Hungary into Christian Western Europe, rebuilding the state according to the Western political and social model. Géza's eldest son St Stephen (István, Stephen I of Hungary) became the first King of Hungary after defeating his uncle Koppány, who also claimed the throne. The unification of Hungary, the foundation of the Christian state and its transformation into a European feudal monarchy was accomplished by Stephen.

Christianization

Main article: History of Christianity in Hungary See also: Metropolitanate of Tourkia
The first Hungarian Benedictine monastery in Pannonhalma, founded by Prince Géza in 996

The new Hungarian state was located on the border with Christendom. Since the second half of the 10th century AD, Christianity was flourished in Hungary as the German Catholic missionaries arrived from East Francia. Between 945 and 963, the main office-holders of the Principality (the gyula and the horka) agreed to convert to Christianity. In 973 Géza I and all his household were baptised, and a formal peace concluded with the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I; however he remained essentially pagan even after his baptism: Géza had been educated by his father Taksony as a pagan prince. The first Hungarian Benedictine monastery was founded in 996 by Prince Géza. During Géza's reign, the nation conclusively renounced its nomadic way of life and within a few decades of the Battle of Lechfeld became a Christian kingdom.

Organization of the state

Europe in 912

Until 907 (or 904), the Hungarian state was under joint rule (perhaps adopted from the Khazars). The kingship had been divided between the sacral king (some sources report the titles "prince" or "khan"), or Kende, and the military leader, or gyula. It is not known which of the two roles were assigned to Árpád and which to Kurszán. Possibly, after the Kende Kurszán's death, this division ceased and Árpád became the sole ruler of the principality. The Byzantine Constantine Porphyrogennetos called Árpád "ho megas Tourkias archon" (the great prince of Tourkia), and all of the 10th-century princes who ruled the country held this title. According to the Agnatic seniority the oldest members of the ruling clan inherited the principality. The Grand Princes of Hungary probably did not hold superior power, because during the military campaigns to the west and to the south the initially strong princely power had decreased. Moreover, the records do not refer to Grand Princes in the first half of the 10th century, except in one case, where they mention Taksony as 'duke of Hungary' (Taxis-dux, dux Tocsun) in 947. The role of military leaders (Bulcsú, Lél) grew more significant. The princes of the Árpád dynasty bore Turkic names as did the majority of the Hungarian tribes.

Titles

  • Kende (in Arabic sources) or megas archon (in Byzantine sources), rex (in Latin sources), the Grand Prince of Hungarians (after 907 CE)
  • Gyla or djila (gyula) or magnus princeps (in western sources), the military leader (second rank), the Grand Prince of Hungarians
  • Horca, Kharkhas, the judge (third rank)

Population

See also: Demographics of Hungary

There are various estimates of the size of the country's population in the 10th century, ranging from 250,000 to 1.5 million in 900 AD. There is no archaeological evidence that the Hungarian nobles lived in castles in the 10th century. Archaeology revealed only one fortified building dated to the late 9th century (the castle of Mosapurc). Only excavations of 11th century buildings give certain evidence of castle building. However, the result of the excavations in Borsod may imply that the prelates and nobles lived in stone houses as early as the 10th century. Muslim geographers mentioned that Hungarians lived in tents. Beside tents, the common people lived in pit-dwellings, though there is archaeological proof of the appearance of multi-roomed and wood-and-stone house types.

Further theories

Some historians believe that Prince Árpád's people were Turkic speakers and the Magyars had been in the Basin since 680s. Their main argument is that the newcomers' cemeteries are too small, indicating that the population was not big enough to make Magyar the dominant language in the Basin. However, it seems that Árpád led the Megyer tribe, and it would be tricky if the Megyer tribe would have spoken Bulgar Turkic. Of course, in principle anything may happen in a symbiosis.

See also

References

  1. ^ Bauer, Susan Wise (22 February 2010). The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 586. ISBN 978-0-393-07817-6.
  2. Ritz-Buranbaeva, Oksana; Mladineo, Vanja (22 September 2011). Culture and Customs of Hungary. ABC-CLIO. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-313-38370-0.
  3. Davies, Colin (1969). The Emergence of Western Society: European History A.D. 300-1200. Macmillan. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-333-03520-7.
  4. Lawler, Jennifer (2004). Encyclopedia of the Byzantine Empire. McFarland & Company. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7864-1520-5.
  5. Hadtörténelmi közlemények, Volume 114, Hadtörténeti Intézet és Múzeum, 2001, p. 131
  6. Komzsik, Louis (2011). Cycles of Time: From Infinity to Eternity. Trafford Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4269-5336-1.
  7. ^ Ligeti, Lajos (1982). Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. Vol. 36. Akadémiai Kiadó. p. 419.
  8. Stessel, Zahava Szász (1995). Wine and Thorns in Tokay Valley: Jewish Life in Hungary : the History of Abaújszántó. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. ISBN 978-0-8386-3545-2.
  9. Linehan, Peter; Nelson, Janet Laughland (2001). The Medieval World. Routledge. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-415-18151-8.
  10. Khazanov, Anatoly Michailovich; Wink, André (2001). Nomads in the Sedentary World. Psychology Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7007-1370-7.
  11. Lendvai, Paul (2003). The Hungarians: A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat. C. Hurst. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-85065-682-1.
  12. ^ Paul Lendvai, The Hungarians: a thousand years of victory in defeat, C. Hurst & Co., 2003, pp. 15–29, 533
  13. Studies in medieval and renaissance history, Committee for Medieval Studies, University of British Columbia, 1980, p. 159
  14. ^ Peter F. Sugar, Péter Hanák, A History of Hungary, Indiana University Press, 1994, pp. 12–17
  15. Pál Engel, Tamás Pálosfalvi, Andrew Ayton, The Realm of St. Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary, 895–1526, .B.Tauris, 2005, p. 27
  16. Gyula Decsy, A. J. Bodrogligeti, Ural-Altaische Jahrbücher, Volume 63, Otto Harrassowitz, 1991, p. 99
  17. György Balázs, Károly Szelényi, The Magyars: the birth of a European nation, Corvina, 1989, p. 8
  18. Alan W. Ertl, Toward an Understanding of Europe: A Political Economic Précis of Continental Integration, Universal-Publishers, 2008, p. 358
  19. Peter B. Golden, Nomads and their neighbours in the Russian steppe: Turks, Khazars and Qipchaqs, Ashgate/Variorum, 2003. "Tenth-century Byzantine sources, speaking in cultural more than ethnic terms, acknowledged a wide zone of diffusion by referring to the Khazar lands as 'Eastern Tourkia' and to Hungary as 'Western Tourkia.'" Carter Vaughn Findley, The Turks in the World History Archived 5 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 51, citing Peter B. Golden, 'Imperial Ideology and the Sources of Political Unity Amongst the Pre-Činggisid Nomads of Western Eurasia,' Archivum Eurasiae Medii Aevi 2 (1982), 37–76.
  20. Carter V. Findley, The Turks in world history, Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 51
  21. Raphael Patai, The Jews of Hungary: History, Culture, Psychology, Wayne State University Press, 1996, p. 29, ISBN 978-0814325612
  22. ^ Kirschbaum, Stanislav J. (1995). A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival. New York: Palgrave Macmillan; St. Martin's Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-312-10403-0. Retrieved 9 October 2009. Cited: "Great Moravia was a vassal state of the Germanic Frankish Kingdom and paid an annual tribute to it."
  23. István Süli-Zakar, The Most Important Geopolitical and Histogeographical Questions of the Age of the Conquest and the Foundation of the Hungarian State, In: New Results of Cross-border Co-operation, The Department of Social Geography and Regional Development Planning of the University of Debrecen & Institute for Euroregional Studies "Jean Monnet" European Centre of Excellence, 2011, p. 12, ISBN 978-963-89167-3-0
  24. Alfried Wieczorek, Hans-Martin Hinz, Council of Europe. Art Exhibition, Europe's centre around AD 1000, Volume 1, Volume 1, Theiss, 2000, pp. 363-372
  25. Bryan Cartledge, Bryan Cartledge (Sir.), The will to survive: a history of Hungary, Timewell Press, 2006, p.6
  26. ^ Dora Wiebenson, József Sisa, Pál Lövei, The architecture of historic Hungary, MIT Press, 1998, p. 11, ISBN 978-0-262-23192-3
  27. Szőke, M. Béla (2014). Gergely, Katalin; Ritoók, Ágnes (eds.). The Carolingian Age in the Carpathians (PDF). Translated by Pokoly, Judit; Strong, Lara; Sullivan, Christopher. Budapest: Hungarian National Museum. p. 112. ISBN 978-615-5209-17-8.
  28. Engel, Pál; Ayton, Andrew (23 February 2001). The Realm of St Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary, 895-1526. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85773-173-9.
  29. ^ Barta, István; Berend, T. Iván; Hanák, Péter; Lackó, Miklós; Makkai, László; Nagy, L. Zsuzsa; Ránki, György (1975). Pamlényi, Ervin (ed.). A history of Hungary. Collet's. p. 22. ISBN 9780569077002.
  30. Macartney, Carlile A. (1962). Hungary: a short history. Chicago University Press. p. 5. ISBN 9780852240359.
  31. Szabados, György (2019). Miljan, Suzana; B. Halász, Éva; Simon, Alexandru (eds.). "The origins and the transformation of the early Hungarian state" (PDF). Reform and Renewal in Medieval East and Central Europe: Politics, Law and Society. Zagreb.
  32. Engel, Pál (1990). Glatz, Ferenc; Burucs, Kornélia (eds.). Beilleszkedés Európába a kezdetektől 1440-ig. Vol. Magyarok Európában I. Budapest: Háttér Lapkiadó és Könykiadó. p. 97. ISBN 963-7403-892.
  33. Kontler, László (2002). A history of Hungary: millennium in Central Europe. Palgrave Macmilllan. p. 42.
  34. Borbála Obrusánszky, Endre Neparáczki, Miklós Makoldi (2022). Regényes történelem (in Hungarian).
  35. Peter Heather, Empires and Barbarians: The Fall of Rome and the Birth of Europe, Pan Macmillan, 2012, p. 369, ISBN 9780199892266
  36. Clifford Rogers, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, Volume 1, Oxford University Press, 2010, p. 292
  37. Oksana Buranbaeva Culture and Customs of Hungary
  38. The New Hungarian quarterly, Volumes 31-32, Corvina Press, 1990, p. 140
  39. ^ Lajos Gubcsi, Hungary in the Carpathian Basin, MoD Zrínyi Media Ltd, 2011
  40. ^ Révész, László (March 1996). A honfoglaló magyarok Északkelet- Magyarországon. Új Holnap 41. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012.
  41. ^ Günter Prinzing, Maciej Salamon, Byzanz und Ostmitteleuropa 950 - 1453: Beiträge einer table-ronde während des XIX. International Congress of Byzantine Studies, Copenhagen 1996, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 1999, pp. 27-33
  42. ^ Nóra Berend, At the gate of Christendom: Jews, Muslims, and "pagans" in medieval Hungary, c. 1000-c. 1300, Cambridge University Press, 2001, p. 19
  43. Antal Bartha, Hungarian society in the 9th and 10th centuries, Akadémiai Kiadó, 1975, pp- 53-84, ISBN 978-963-05-0308-2
  44. ^ László Kósa, István Soós, A companion to Hungarian studies, Akadémiai Kiadó, 1999, p. 113
  45. ^ Révész, László (20 December 2010). Hunok, Avarok, Magyarok (Huns, Avars, Magyars) (PDF). Hitel folyóirat (Magazine of Hitel). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2012.
  46. Révész, László (February 2008). A Felső-Tisza-vidék honfoglalás kori temetői [Cemeteries from the time of the conquest of the Upper Tisza region] (in Hungarian). História. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008.
  47. Stanislav J. Kirschbaum A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival
  48. ^ József Attila Tudományegyetem., Bölcsészettudományi Kar (University of József Attila), Acta historica, Volumes 92–98, 1991, p. 3
  49. Miklós Molnár, A Concise History of Hungary
  50. András Gerő, A magyar történelem vitatott személyiségei, Volume 3, Kossuth, 2004, p. 13, ISBN 978-963-09-4597-4
  51. Mark Whittow, The making of Byzantium, 600-1025, University of California Press, 1996, p. 294
  52. Ferenc Glatz, Magyarok a Kárpát-medencében, Pallas Lap- és Könyvkiadó Vállalat, 1988, p. 21
  53. Kevin Alan Brook, The Jews of Khazaria, Rowman & Littlefield, 2009, p. 253
  54. Victor Spinei, The Great Migrations in the East and South East of Europe from the Ninth to the Thirteenth Century: Hungarians, Pechenegs and Uzes, Hakkert, 2006, p. 42
  55. ^ Timothy Reuter, The New Cambridge Medieval History: c. 900-c. 1024, Cambridge University Press, 1995, p. 543-545, ISBN 978-0-521-36447-8
  56. Acta historica, Volumes 105-110, József Attila Tudom. Bölcs. Kar, 1998, p. 28
  57. Michael David Harkavy, The new Webster's international encyclopedia: the new illustrated reference guide, Trident Press International, 1998, p. 70
  58. András Róna-Tas, A honfoglaló magyar nép, Balassi Kiadó Budapest, 1997, ISBN 963-506-140-4
  59. Berend, Urbańczyk & Wiszewski 2013, p. 72.
  60. ^ Wolf & Takács 2011, p. 238.
  61. Wolf 2008, p. 14.
  62. Balassa 1997, p. 291.
  63. Wolf & Takács 2011, p. 209.
  64. Wolf 2008, pp. 13–14.
  65. Proto-Magyar Texts from the middle of 1st Middle of 1st Millenium? or Are they published or not? B. Lukács, President of Matter Evolution Subcommittee of the HAS. H-1525 Bp. 114. Pf. 49., Budapest, Hungary.

Secondary sources

  • Balassa, Iván, ed. (1997). Magyar Néprajz IV [Hungarian ethnography IV.]. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. ISBN 963-05-7325-3.
  • Berend, Nora; Urbańczyk, Przemysław; Wiszewski, Przemysław (2013). Central Europe in the High Middle Ages: Bohemia, Hungary and Poland, c. 900-c. 1300. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-78156-5.
  • Wolf, Mária; Takács, Miklós (2011). "Sáncok, földvárak" ("Ramparts, earthworks") by Wolf; "A középkori falusias települések feltárása" ("Excavation of the medieval rural settlements") by Takács". In Müller, Róbert (ed.). Régészeti Kézikönyv [Handbook of archaeology]. Magyar Régész Szövetség. pp. 209–248. ISBN 978-963-08-0860-6.
  • Wolf, Mária (2008). A borsodi földvár (PDF). Művelődési Központ, Könyvtár és Múzeum, Edelény. ISBN 978-963-87047-3-3.

Further reading

Hungary articles
History
Geography
Politics
Economy
Society
Culture
Categories: